One more time in the regular season, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls lacrosse teams faced each other, this time at LHS Stadium, with the Warriors looking to make up ground after taking a 13-7 defeat two weeks earlier at Bragman Stadium.
But C-NS was well-rested, having not played in five days, and what happened in that previous game – namely, a one-sided loss to Pittsford on April 29 – had rankled the Northstars, who instead of letting the Warriors get closer would stretch things out in a 14-5 victory.
As always, a key to the outcome was the way C-NS controlled the draws. This led to a long string of first-half possessions and little chance for Liverpool to answer as C-NS, without anything spectacular, grabbed a 6-2 lead by halftime.
Pulling further away in the second half, the Northstars saw Jessica Meneilly outscore the Warriors all by herself, finishing with six goals. Julia Alberici, with three goals and two assists, offered ample support as Megan Tryniski scored twice. Single tallies went to Olivia Massena, Makena Scarlata and Jessica Foley as Brenna Duffy added an assist.
It took the work of goalie Marissa Madonna, who had nine saves, to keep the Warriors from falling further behind. Only Veronica Brancato scored twice as Brittany Halpin, Colleen Tifft and Megan Fitzpatrick had one goal apiece. Bella Brancato and Abby Hope added assists of their own.
Liverpool had just played two nights before, against Baldwinsville, and fell to the Bees 17-7, a score nearly identical to the 17-8 loss it took at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium earlier this season.
Only trailing by three, 7-4, at halftime of the rematch, the Warriors saw B’ville pull clear behind a well-balanced attack as Maria Henwood scored five times, with Peyton Fleming getting three goals and four assists as Sara Goodwin and Katie Pascale also scored three times.
Meanwhile, Liverpool did not have anyone net more than one goal. Those seven tallies came from seven different players –Halpin, Fitzpatrick, Hope, Tifft, Veronica Brancato, Maia Henry and Zoe Morgenroth – as Halpin and Veronica Brancato added two assists apiece. Madonna finished with 13 saves and Bella Brancato contributed an assist.
